In the dog days of August, the big boys in the Blue Jays lineup have become the Dogs of War.

In Friday’s 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers, the trio of Troy Tulowitzki, Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista all hit solo home runs.

Edwin Encarnacion was the lone big dog to not go yard that game but, on Saturday afternoon, he more than made up for it with a three-run shot in the first inning, a two-run homer in the sixth and, to top it off, a grand slam in the seventh that helped propel the Jays to an oh-so-easy 15-1 mauling of the Detroit Tigers.

The nine RBIs by Encarnacion tied a club record first established by Roy Howell in a game against the Yankees back on Sept. 10 of 1977.

“I don’t think it could get any better,” manager John Gibbons said of Encarnacion’s afternoon. “I was here, coaching first base when (Carlos) Delgado had four (home runs). He’s some kind of locked in. When he gets it going, there’s nobody better, nobody more dangerous and he’s smokin’ right now.”

Even Russell Martin, who has been hobbled by leg and thumb issues the past month, got into the act with a two-run home run in the six-run seventh, his first homer since July 30.

It’s been a power parade by the big boys all month long as, with the win, the Jays improved their August record to 20-5, which ties the club record for most wins in August first set in 1989.

The Jays just aren’t beating teams, they’re crushing them.

“I look back at the five months we’ve played, and to score as many runs as we’ve had and to have as many big innings as we’ve had at this level, it’s surprised the hell out of me, to be honest with you,” Gibbons said of the offensive juggernaut the Jays have become. “It doesn’t happen up here at this level (10-plus runs) and we’ve done it so many times (21). I can’t say I expected it, but you feel you’re never out of a game unless it’s really lopsided. It’s the product of a lineup full of good hitters.”

Such as Encarnacion.

In fact, he’s been so hot this month, it’s news when he makes an out.

The three home runs, his 27th, 28th and 29th of the season — which resulted in many of the fans firing their hats on to the field in a salute — extended his hit streak to 24 games, the longest hitting streak in the majors this season.

Steady Eddie has now recorded an RBI in seven consecutive games and, over his past 10 games, he has logged eight home runs and 25 RBIs.

In 21 games this month, Encarnacion has hit 10 home runs with 34 RBIs and is batting .392 (31-for-79).

That’s called production.

“Right now, this is the biggest game I’ve ever been (in) and I feel happy and I thank God for giving me a game like this,” Encarnacion said.

When he came up in the seventh with the bases loaded, he wasn’t thinking slam.

“No, I was thinking about looking for my pitch and making a good swing on it,” Encarnacion said. “I’m healthy, I’m 100%, I’m ready to keep going.”

Hitting three homers and driving in nine runs is great and all that, but the team win is most gratifying for Encarnacion.

“It’s more fun that we’re winning, winning games and we’ve been having fun as a team,” he said.

On the mound for the Jays was Drew Hutchison, the right-hander who was dropped from the rotation and the team during the club’s recently completed eight-game road trip that featured three off-days.

Hutchison last pitched for the Jays on Aug. 16 against the Yankees in a home game where he collected the win by holding them to one run and three hits over 6.2 innings.

Against the Tigers, he improved to 13-2 overall and 11-1 at home. Over seven innings, Hutchison allowed one run on six hits and displayed good control as he didn’t walk a batter while striking out seven.

Like taking candy from a baby.

HOCKEY RITUAL NEW TO EDWIN

There was hardly a cloud in the sky over the Rogers Centre, but it did rain … hats.

After Toronto Blue Jays DH Edwin Encarnacion hit a grand slam in the seventh inning on Saturday against the Detroit Tigers — his third home run of the afternoon — the fans began throwing hats on to the field, the way they do in hockey.

The trouble was, Encarnacion, a native of the Dominican Republic and not a big hockey fan, had no idea why the Jays faithful were littering the field with hats.

“(Dioner) Navarro told me after they throw the hats to the field, like when they score three goals (in the NHL) they do that and it made me feel happy,” said Encarnacion, who recorded nine RBIs to match a club record (Roy Howell, Sept. 10, 1977). Afterwards, a huge plastic bag full of hats sat in front of Encarnacion’s locker in the Jays clubhouse. When asked what he was going to do with them all, he said: “I maybe sign them and give them back to the owners to show them I appreciate it.”

The spontaneous throwing of hats was certainly appreciated by Encarnacion’s teammates, as well as manager John Gibbons, after he realized what it meant.

“At first I thought it was just a couple of idiots throwing their hats,” said Gibbons. “Then somebody said it was because of that hat trick — maybe it was (pitching coach) Pete Walker — and it changed my judgement.”

Second baseman Ryan Goins, who matched his season-high with three hits in the 15-1 drubbing over the Tigers, called the gesture “awesome.” Starting pitcher Drew Hutchison went even further.

“The fans throwing the hats on the field was probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. That was unbelievable. It was just fun to be a part of,” he said.

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